The Times-PicayuneAbrayo Franklin is one of the guys the New Orleans Saints targeted for free agency.

In a matter of days last month, players switched addresses and uniforms at a frantic rate - all because of the shortened free agency period.

Because of the NFL labor dispute this season that locked out players for 4½ months, NFL personnel executives and player agents locked into a week long frenzy of signing free agents to new contracts, a process that typically played out over weeks if not months in previous years.

Once the signing period began July 27, just as training camps were opening, marquee names started to role across the transaction wires.

At a head-spinning pace -- more than 200 of the 433 unrestricted free agents were off the board in the first six days -- All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was leaving the Oakland Raiders and signing with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Embattled receiver Plaxico Burress was signing with the New York Jets. Veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck parted ways with the Seattle Seahawks and move to Tennessee.

They signed highly regarded run-stuffing defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin and diminutive running back and return specialist Darren Sproles, among others.

Saints Coach Sean Payton doesn't quite know if the shortened period was the craziest he's ever seen, but it certainly was different.

Players were arriving to camp only to watch for days as other went through drills.

"Well, I would say it was the most unique," Payton said. "I haven't gone back and counted, but certainly it was different from a time frame, you know some of these have happened while we were in training camp; practices had begun. From a number standpoint it would probably be up there with one or two of the other seasons."

Top 10 free agents who changed teams

Player, new team, old team

CB Nnamdi Asomugha Eagles, Raiders

DT Cullen Jenkins Eagles, Packers

DT Aubrayo Franklin Saints, 49ers

WR Sidney Rice Seahawks, Vikings

WR Plaxico Burress Jets, Giants

DE Jason Babin Eagles, Titans

DE Ray Edwards Falcons, Vikings

CB Jonathan Joseph Texans, Bengals

WR Braylon Edwards 49ers, Jets

QB Matt Hasselbeck Titans, Seahawks

The Philadelphia Eagles appear to be one of the top winners - at least on paper - of the abbreviated free agency period.

"It's dramatic," Eagles President Joe Banner said. "We went in with an aggressive plan. You never know how much of your plan you're actually going to be able to successfully execute. We're trying to do things; there was competition for all of the players we've been able to acquire.

"We got a little good fortune, we were very aggressive about it, and we're at the point this is considered one of the most desirable places to play in the league. I think all of those things came together. You've got a lot of players who want to win a Super Bowl. They view this as a place they have a real chance to do that at this point. All of those things came together and we had a successful first three or four days in terms of executing what we hope to do."

Others teams that seemingly enjoyed a good free agents signing period were the Jets, Saints, Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.

The Jets may not have signed the coveted Asomugha to play with All-Pro corner Darrelle Revis, but they did managed to re-sign talented cornerback Antonio Cromartie. And they made an even bigger splash with the signing of Burress, the gifted receiver who's returning to football after spending two years in prison following a guilty plea to weapons charges.

And further validating their offseason, the Jets re-signed receiver Santonio Holmes.

Meanwhile, the Saints landed Franklin, widely considered the best run-stuffer on the open market, Sproles, a valuable third-down back and return man, former All-Pro center Olin Kreutz and maintained key veterans Roman Harper, Jermon Bushrod, Lance Moore and tight end David Thomas.

The Seahawks brought in a couple of capable pass catchers in receiver Braylon Edwards and tight end Zach Miller to help out another free-agent acquisition, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. They also landed offensive guard Robert Gallery from the Raiders.

The Texans weren't as spectacular. But they did sign cornerback Jonathan Joseph, giving them a top-flight cover man after Asomugha decided to go to the Eagles. They also landed former Pro Bowl fullback Lawrence Vickers and safety/returner Danieal Manning, who was chosen All-Pro in 2008 by the Pro Football Writers Association.

With a bevy of cap space, the Carolina Panthers didn't look far to spend their money. Instead of shopping elsewhere, the Panthers decided to re-sign their own top free agents, giving defensive end Charles Johnson ($76 million) and running back DeAngelo Williams ($43 million) huge contracts.

They also re-signed linebackers James Anderson and linebacker Jon Beason got a five-year contract extension.

But if there were winners in this free-agency period, there had to a loser.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers take that honor, almost by default.

The Buccaneers had about $52 million in cap space, and all they did other than re-sign a few veteran offensive linemen was to sign punter Michael Koenen.

Nakia Hogan can be reached at nhogan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3405.